Trails in Allier

Located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Allier is a perfect playground for lovers of nature running and trail. Between the Bourbonnaise Mountain, the gorges of the Sioule, the banks of the Allier, and the vast state forests, you'll rack up the kilometers without ever getting bored. Here, the elevation is often tricky: it goes up, it goes down, it accelerates... and it burns 🔥. Allier has about 330,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 7,300 km². Its prefecture is Moulins, the former capital of the Dukes of Bourbon. The department includes 317 municipalities, with main towns being Vichy, Montluçon, Moulins, Cusset, and Yzeure. Are you wondering what the inhabitants are called? They are the Bourbonnais.

A preserved trail terrain 🌿

If trail running in Allier is so popular, it's thanks to its preserved environment. The Bourbonnaise Mountain, in the southeast of the department, is the favorite spot for trailers: forests, trails, roots, single tracks, and unexpected views 🤩. The climate is semi-continental, with well-marked seasons: perfect for running almost all year round, without the intense heat of the south or the crowds of the Alps.

Trail running, an obvious choice in Allier 🏃‍♀️

In 03, trail running is not just a sport, it's a real culture. We don’t run to show off, but for fun... and to test if the legs hold up 😅. Allier is teeming with iconic races like the Trails Chantelle Sports Nature, the Beautiful Race with Les Bougies de Charroux, the Trail des Côtes Matras, wild and undulating, or the Trail of Lavault-Ste-Anne and Montluçon Community 🌲. With formats ranging from short trail to ultras.

History and active recovery 🏰

After the effort, it's time for discovery. Allier is full of historical heritage like the historical center of Moulins, the spa town of Vichy (UNESCO listed), the castle of Bourbon-l’Archambault, and the villages of Charroux and Hérisson, ranked among the most beautiful in France. And honestly, what could be better than a little visit to the Vichy baths to recover after a trail? 🛁 In Allier, the food is really good! On the menu, you'll find the famous potato pie, the delicious Charolais meats 🥩, Auvergne cheeses, and to end on a sweet note, the Vichy pastille to help wash it all down 😋. Simple, generous cuisine that warms the heart.

5 good reasons to run a trail in Allier ⭐

Allier offers quiet and wild trails, a true diversity of terrains, and races that are both friendly and well-organized. It is an underrated but demanding department, where you can enjoy the perfect combo: sport, nature, and heritage. And a local anecdote, in this department, they often say that if you finish a trail with clean shoes... it means you got lost! Between mud, leaves, and forest paths, there's no cheating 🍂.